Bose Soundlink III Speaker Review: Uninspired Greatness

Bose is a name synonymous with great audio. But an explosion of cheap and portable bluetooth speakers from Jawbone, Ultimate Ears, and JBL (just to name a few), have made the market more competitive. Does Bose's newest speaker, the Soundlink Bluetooth III, have enough to make it stand out or does it get lost in the crowd?

What do you want in a speaker? That question used to have an easy answer, but as the technology inside our gadgets becomes cheaper and more powerful, the answer isn't so simple. Talk to someone buying a new smartphone and they probably won't say call quality is their main concern. A smartwatch shopper might not even mention timekeeping.

So when it comes to bluetooth speakers, sure, users want something that sounds great. But what about color options, material, NFC pairing, charging ability, battery life, speakerphone, or speaker-to-speaker connectivity? This questions lingered in our mind as we tested the Bose Soundlink Bluetooth III. This speaker is strictly business, providing a top-tier audio experience. But in the ever-evolving bluetooth speaker market, does it have enough appeal to stand out from its worthy competitors?

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Design

Most bluetooth speakers have taken a styling turn toward the bold. Jawbone, for instance, offers a wide array of color customization, speaker grilles with inventive designs, and form factors that are eye-catching in themselves. This is all about cosmetics, but cosmetics is an area where Bose continues to struggle. The Soundlink Bluetooth III's design looks more sleek than what's come before it and measures at about 5 x 10 x 2 inches, but its two-tone gray appearance is just boring. Bose tries to spice things up with $35 accessory covers. Those add-ons add some color to an otherwise bland design, but inspire no confidence in protecting the speaker from water or unfortunate tumbles. They seem to be more of afterthought than inspired an design.

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The silcone top does protect the device from dirt and dust, and the metal casing makes the speaker fingerprint-free. With this subdued design in mind, this Bose belongs on an end table in your home or on brief forays into the backyard—but not anywhere else. This isn't something you're going to throw in your backseat and take to the park or the beach. You'd be better served by the plethora of rugged or compact options out there.

The power, bluetooth, and auxiliary-input buttons are on the top left of the device with volume control and mute on the right. Bose has the real estate here for more navigation controls, or at the very least a pause button, but decided to keep things simple. On the back is auxiliary input for connecting non-bluetooth devices, a micro-USB (for firmware, not for charging), and a dedicated AC adapter port. That last item is frustrating because it forces users to carry around a AC adapter if they do decide to take the Soundlink mobile. Also, the Soundlink doesn't come with a phone charging option that we've seen with other speakers in this class.

Soundlink has no NFC pairing but does have a six-device memory, meaning it will automatically sync with the last six devices used with the speaker when they're within range. Also, connecting with the Soundlink was one of the most pain-free experiences I've ever had. Within 20 seconds of getting the Soundlink out of the box, I was already listening to music.

Hardware and Sound

Where Bose is a little sparse in function, it excels in sound. The Soundlink III uses four neodymium transducers and dual-opposing passive radiators to create big sound that gets better as the volume rises. Bose says that a new digital signaling algorithm and improved electronics let the Soundlink III outperform its predecessors at higher volumes, and we heard nothing to refute the claim. This speaker sounds clean and clear in the low and mid-levels. It stumbled a bit trying to play fast-paced, high-volume punk, such as Destruction Unit or Off!, but that's a problem I've found consistently among most $300-tier speakers.

Battery life is also improved on this model as it steps up from 10 hours to 14 hours. This at least lessens the frustration of needing a dedicated AC adapter.

Bottom Line

Regarding design and functionality, Bose is stubbornly stuck in the past, trending in the opposite direction than brands like Jawbone and Ultimate Ears. But when it comes to sound, the half-century old audio giant knows what it's doing. Right now, Bose is just resting on unused potential. If Bose could somehow pair an edgier, modern look (or at least the option for one) with its high-quality sound, the competition would find it hard to match. If Bose were to broaden their scope and combine design, sound, and function into one product, its might be surprised at what could happen.